The Promise Keepers
The Test
- 35:1 “days of Jehoiakim” - This is a flash back. God set up this test of the
Rechabite commitment to their pledge for the instruction of Zedekiah and
Judah over a decade later.
- 35:2 “offer them a drink of wine” - the Rechabites were known for their
total abstinence pledge. Jeremiah knew this. This was a test of their
commitment.
- 35:5 “Drink some wine” - I pictured trying to give a Amish man a
smart-phone.
- 35:6 “we do not drink wine” - a special discipline for the family/group,
like the Amish today.
- 35:7 “nor build a house or plant seed” - in addition to abstinence,
they were committed to not be tied down to a location.
- 35:8 “Jonadab son of Rechab” - joined in the Jehu revolution and
apparently stayed true to Jehovah, moving to Judah as Israel became
increasing apostate.
2 Kings 10:15
- 35:10 “obeyed and done exactly” - they kept their pledge.
- 35:11 “Chaldeans and Arameans” - this confirms the test took place
under Jehoakim. 2 Kings 24:1-3
The Lesson
- 35:12 “Then the word of the Lord came” - it is not clear whether this
prophecy was given a decade ago, or we are now back to Zedekiah under siege.
- 35:13 “will you not obey My words?” - why can’t you keep your commitments
to God like the Rechabites kept theirs to their founder?
- 35:14 “they have obeyed the command of their forefather” - God confirms
that the Rechabites are promise keepers.
- 35:16 “but these people have not listened” - unlike the Rechabites,
the people of Judah are promise breakers.
- 35:17 “all the disaster I have pronounced against them” - the rebellion
of Judah has sealed their judgement.
- 35:19 “never fail to have a man to stand before Me” - In contract to Judah,
the Rechabites have an eternal blessing. Some commentators believe the
Essenes in the time of Christ were Rechabites.